AbstractThis study was
conducted for the evaluation of hypertonic saline solution in
haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) in buffaloes, calf scour in buffalo
calves and other clinical conditions of livestock characterized by
hypovolaemia and/or endotoxaemia including spontaneous cases of calf
scour, dehydrated diarrhoeic goats and buffaloes. For this purpose,
50buffaloes were selected from the field suffering from HS. The
disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs. Then theses
animals were randomly divided into two equal groups (A and
B).Buffaloes of group A were treated with the conventional treatment
already in vogue i.e. ceftiofur HCl and flunixin meglumine @ 6 mg/kg
and 2 mg/kg BW, IM and IV, respectively. Group B was treated with
intravenous infusion of hypertonic saline solution (HSS) @ 4 mL/kg
BW followed by isotonic saline solution @ 10 mL/kg BW along with
ceftiofur HCl and flunixin meglumine. For evaluation of HSS in calf
scour, neonatal diarrhoea in buffalo calves (n=24) was induced
through oral administration of 2 mL broth culture of having
eneteropathogenic E. coli count of 1010 CFU. To evaluate the
efficacy of HSS in clinical conditions of livestock,spontaneous
cases of calf scour (n=24), dehydrated diarrhoeic goats (n=24) and
buffaloes (n=24) were studied. In all these conditions, the animals
were randomly divided into two equal groups viz. A and B (n=12
each). Group A was treated with isotonic (90 mL/kg BW) and group B
with hypertonic (4 mL/kg BW) saline solutions along with ceftiofur
HCl and flunixin meglumine (6 and 2 mg/kg BW, respectively). The
efficacy of treatment was evaluated on the basis of clinical
parameters, haematological analysis, haemodynamic parameters, blood
gas analysis, serum electrolytes and serum biochemical profiles.
These all evaluation parameters were recorded at baseline (during
disease), t=1, t=3, t=6, t=12, t=24 and t=36 hours after treatment.
However, for induced calf scour, the additional recording time point
was before induction of diarrhoea which acted as baseline; other
recording time points being the same as for other conditions
studied.Hypertonic saline infusion to the buffaloes of group B
suffering from HS showed significantly higher survival rate of 80%
and differed significantly (P < 0.05) from group A in which survival
rate was 52%. Group B significantly (P < 0.05) improved heart
rate,mean arterial pressure,central venous pressure,haematocrit and
haemoglobin concentration,partial pressure of arterial oxygen, blood
pH and total serum protein. Hypertonic infusion increased serum
sodium and chloride ions concentration but the changes were not of
sufficient magnitude to be of risk to the buffaloes. Hypertonic
saline solution (group B) resuscitated buffalo calves from neonatal
diarrhoea (either induced or spontaneous) more rapidly and
effectively than isotonic saline solution (group A) and showed
significant (P < 0.05) improvement in all the parameters studied.
The resuscitation of diarrhoeic dehydrated goats (n=24) and
buffaloes (n=24) through administering hypertonic saline solution
was evaluated. Both treatment protocols helped in recovering the
normal values of all the parameters studied within experimental
period. But hypertonic saline solution showed significant
differences (P < 0.05) over group A in heart rate,mean arterial
pressure, central venous pressure, partial pressure of arterial
oxygen, blood pH and bicarbonates in diarrhoeic goats. In diarrhoeic
buffaloes, HSS infusion only showed significant difference (P <
0.05) over group A in partial pressure of venous oxygen, while other
parameters were recovered to normal without any statistical
difference. On the basis of findings of this study, it was concluded
that hypertonic saline solution can be safely administered to the
buffaloes suffering from haemorrhagic septicaemia and buffalo calves
with neonatal diarrhoea.It offset deleterious haemodynamic effects
of endotoxins, thus ameliorates the septic shock more effectively
than does antibiotic therapy alone in HS. In addition to rapid and
effective, intravenous administration of a small volume of HSS
provides a practical and economical method to resuscitate dehydrated
calves with neonatal diarrhoea, diarrhoeic goats and buffaloes,thus
make it suitable for field use.